Remote-controlled motorcycle and method of counter-steering

Abstract

A remote-controlled toy motorcycle includes a chassis supported by oversized front and rear tires for increased stability, and a chassis-mounted rider figure having rotating members for contacting a ground surface to prevent excessive wear of the rider figure legs and also to allow the toy motorcycle to self-start from a leaning position. “Counter-steering” is simulated by actuating a steering servo to initially turn a front wheel from a straight original direction to a direction opposite the desired turn direction. The front wheel is held momentarily while the toy motorcycle destabilizes and leans in the turn direction. Then, the steering servo is automatically actuated to turn the front wheel in the desired turn direction.

1. A method of steering a toy vehicle having in-line front and rear wheels to simulate counter-steering in turning from an original straight direction to a direction away from the straight direction comprising the steps:
 a) actuating a steering servo on the toy vehicle so as to turn one of the front wheel and the rear wheel of the toy vehicle initially from an original straight direction to a first direction and maintaining the one wheel in the first direction for a first time period sufficient to initially destabilize the toy vehicle; and 
 b) immediately thereafter automatically actuating the steering servo to turn the one wheel from the first direction to a second direction laterally opposite the first direction and maintaining the one wheel in the second direction for a second time period greater than the first time period and sufficient to turn the toy vehicle from the originally straight direction to the second direction. 
 
   
   
     2. The method of  claim 1  wherein the first time period for performing step a) is less than one second and the second time period for performing step b) is more than one second. 
   
   
     3. The method of  claim 2  further comprising a step:
 c) after steps a) and b), selectively operating the steering servo so as to turn the one wheel from the second direction back to the original straight direction. 
 
   
   
     4. The method of  claim 1  wherein the steps a) and b) are performed in response to a command from a source remote from the toy vehicle to turn the toy vehicle in the second direction. 
   
   
     5. The method of  claim 1  further comprising before actuating steps a) and b), a preliminary step of transmitting to the toy vehicle from a location remote to the toy vehicle, a turning command signal directing the toy vehicle to turn in the second direction and wherein both actuating steps a) and b) are performed automatically in sequence in response to receiving the turning command signal by the toy vehicle. 
   
   
     6. A method of steering a toy vehicle having in-line front and rear wheels to simulate counter-steering in turning from an original straight ahead travel direction in which the in line front and rear wheels are parallel to one another and the straight ahead travel direction to a travel direction away from the original straight ahead travel direction comprising the steps:
 a) actuating a steering servo on the toy vehicle in a first direction of the steering servo away from an initial position of the steering servo maintaining the toy vehicle in the original straight ahead travel direction so as to turn one of the front wheel and the rear wheel of the toy vehicle initially from the original straight ahead travel direction of the toy vehicle to a first travel direction away from the original straight ahead travel direction and maintaining the one wheel in the first travel direction for a first time period sufficient to initially destabilize the toy vehicle; and 
 b) immediately thereafter automatically actuating the steering servo to move in a second direction away from the initial position of the steering servo and opposite the first direction of the steering servo so as to turn the one wheel from the first travel direction to a second travel direction laterally opposite the first travel direction and away from the original straight ahead travel direction and maintaining the one wheel in the second travel direction with the steering servo for a second time period greater than the first time period and sufficient to turn the toy vehicle from the originally straight ahead travel direction in the second travel direction. 
 
   
   
     7. The method of  claim 6  further comprising a step:
 c) after steps a) and b), selectively returning the steering servo back to the initial position of the steering servo to turn the one wheel from the second direction to a new straight ahead travel direction different from the original travel direction and again parallel with the in line front and rear wheels.